Team USA kicked off their pre-Olympics exhibition tour in a promising way by defeating Canada 86-72 in Las Vegas. The team, led by Anthony Edwards and Anthony Davis, showed their dominance against one of their biggest competitors for the gold medal.
Despite missing Kevin Durant due to a calf strain, Team USA started the game with LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Joel Embiid, Devin Booker, and Joel Embiid. The lineup didn’t seem to click right away, but it was a good opportunity for experimentation.
The game started off slow, with Team USA struggling to find their rhythm. Canada took an early lead, but the Americans quickly turned things around in the second quarter with a 14-2 run. Anthony Edwards stepped up as the team’s primary scorer off the bench, showcasing his skills.
Although the game wasn’t the most aesthetically pleasing, Team USA managed to maintain their lead throughout the night. Fans were treated to exciting moments like a LeBron James-to-Stephen Curry alley-oop. Edwards led all scorers with 13 points, with Curry, Jrue Holiday, and Anthony Davis also contributing double-digit points.
On the Canadian side, RJ Barrett led with 12 points. It’s important to note that international games have 10-minute quarters compared to the NBA’s 12 minutes.
After a close scrimmage with the Select team earlier in the week, Team USA’s victory over Canada was a positive step forward. The team is heavily favored to secure their fifth consecutive gold medal in Paris, and their performance against Canada only solidified those expectations.
Looking ahead, Team USA is set to face Serbia, led by NBA MVP Nikola Jokić, in their opening Olympic match on July 28. The team will have a few more exhibition games against Australia, Serbia, South Sudan, and Germany before heading to Paris. The road to the gold medal continues, and Team USA is gearing up for a successful Olympic campaign.